Alaster pulled some bone out of his Ring of Holding and effortlessly molded it into two chairs, motioning to Alice to sit down. She giggled and hopped into the new chair. Alaster sat down, content to simply watch the duel.

The longer the two fought, the more refined the two became. The Dread Knight still swung with powerful blows, but they gradually became less wild, more focused, and more creative. It began to imitate the War Born and used its body along with its sword as a weapon. Using punches, swipes, and even kicks. Though they still prioritized power over technique.

The War Born stopped attempting to match the Dread Knight in power and instead focused on deflecting or outright avoiding the strikes. It weaved its way around the Dread Knight, restricting its movements as best it could. The two used similar weapons, yet the way they used them were vastly different.

At one point the War Born attempted to surprise the Dread Knight by throwing its sword. While it did work to surprise the Knight, the Born was slightly too slow to capitalize on it, allowing the Knight to deflect the projectile and prepare for charging War Born.

The War Born didn’t hesitate or falter. It advanced, ducking under the Knight’s powerful swing, but it didn’t strike at the Knight, but at its hands, forcing its serrated blade from its hands. In the same movement, the Born took a half step back, grabbed the sword midair, and thrust forward.

But the Dread Knight wasn’t there. Instead of attempting to recover its sword, it side stepped, elbowing the back of the thrusting War Born, sending it off balance. The Knight took the chance and dived towards the War Born’s discarded sword. It came out of the roll with the sword in its hands, deflecting the War Born’s overhead swing to the side.

The Knight drove the tip of its sword into the training grounds’ packed dirt, giving it leverage to get its feet under it, which it then used to propel the pommel into the face of the War Born’s helmet, causing the Born to recoil, not in pain, but from momentum.

The duel continued on, but Alaster turned his attention to the young girl beside him.

“What do you think?” Alaster motioned towards the sparring Minions.

Alice watched in fascination, “It’s amazing and also scary.”

Alaster chuckled, “Yeah, combat can certainly be both. And it should be. Fear keeps you on your toes.”

“But you are so strong!”

“All it takes is one hit. I have defeated countless opponents I had no business even surviving, all because of one lucky hit. You should always keep that in mind. While power is important, proper use of that power is vital.”

“That’s what I keep telling her.”

Both Alaster and Alice looked up at the newcomer. It was a stranger to Alaster, but from the way he saw Alice tense in his [Seeker Sight] Radius, she knew him. And disliked him.

The man was tall and thin, clearly more of a researcher than combatant. He wore elaborate but comfortable clothing. His tunic was tucked in, but loose, allowing complete mobility. His pants, however, were tight, almost disturbingly so in Alaster’s opinion.

He was clearly older than Alaster, but still plenty youthful. Alaster suspected he was somewhere in his mid-twenties, perhaps early thirties. But with all types of Magic, and the slow aging of stronger individuals, appearance was a poor indicator of age.

His face and nape long hair were both immaculately kept. Alaster suspected that while he likely caught the attention of the court ladies, he rarely, if ever, faced actual struggle. He was handsome, in the most clique way. If Alaster was not able to sense otherwise, he would have thought the man was a magical construct of some sort.

As Alaster watched, the man swept his hand through his already perfect black hair. He smirked and Alaster was not sure he had ever seen a more punch-able face. Unfortunately, he restrained himself, he was a guest in the City Lord’s residence after all.

Alaster instead stood up. This man put Alice on edge, Alaster didn’t like that.

The man watched the two Minions duel with a calm and pleasant smile, but it was clear that all his attention was placed on Alaster and Alice. More specifically Alice.

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“My name is Alaster.” Alaster offered.

“I know. You have made some large waves. I doubt there is any Noble in the city that hasn’t heard of you. Most can’t seem to decide whether to be thankful or scared.”

Alaster did not react. He already knew that and did not care. He continued to watch the duel while he subtly moved between the man and Alice while watching the man through his [Seeker Sight]. Its range might be small, but it was invaluable.

“You have me at a disadvantage sir.”

“Apologizes Sir Expert. My name is Arthur Lewale. Son of Count Lewale. You may call me Lord Lewale.” Arthur introduced himself with a flourish and extravagant bow.

“Huh, well Arthur, what do you want?”

Alaster allowed himself to take a small measure of pleasure from Arthur’s eye twitching. It might have been petty, but he didn’t care. The man had barely been in the same room but had already annoyed Alaster more than most things.

Arthur stood straight, his face the very image of perfection. His calming smile as if it had never faltered. Something about that smile did anything but calm Alaster.

“I simply came to introduce myself to the man who fell out of the sky to protect our lovely city.”

Arthur spoke in a lofty and sophisticated way. It was actually the same type of voice commoner children mocked nobles in. At least when they were well away from prying ears.

The System might allow any to grow in strength, already established power would always beat the power that could be. And Noble Houses had already proven time and time again that they had no issue eradicating entire families because of the insulting words from a child.

Commoners had to be very careful around Nobility. But Alaster was no longer a mere commoner. Not only did he have friends in the highest of Nobility, at least in Onigas, but he had the power to wipe out an entire Noble House, though not without severe drawbacks.

“Well, you have introduced yourself. Yet you are still here. So, I ask again, what do you want?”

Without the cover of a bow, Arthur refrained from allowing any displeasure from show on his face. Mostly hidden from behind Alaster, Alice was struggling to not burst out laughing.

Arthur took a deep, but subtle breath before responding, “I came to offer my family’s assistance in anything you might require.”

“I’m assuming in exchange for something?”

Arthur waved his hand in dismissal of the thought, but the glint in his eyes told a different story.

“No no of course! We are all fighting in defense of the city right? It would be foolish to ask for something in return.”

Alaster nodded, “You’re right. It would be foolish, and yet, that is exactly what you are looking for.”

“Nonsense! I am simply saying that my family would be glad to aid you. If you decided to return the favor by aiding us in the future, that would be appreciated. My family would like to form a friendship with you.”

Alaster thought for a moment, “Alright, I will think about it.”

“That’s all I ask for. Unfortunately, I must be away. I must prepare for the next battle.”

Arthur bowed once more before spinning around and gracefully walking out of the training room, leaving the doors open.

Sighing to himself, Alaster summoned one of the Skeletal Workers and sent him to close the doors before vanishing into the ether once more.

“That is such a load of crap.” Alice grumbled.

Chuckling to himself, Alaster turned around and sat down, continuing to watch the duel between the two equally stubborn Undead.

“Him needing to prepare for the battle. The Lewale family is a political family. They contribute only the bare minimum to the city’s defenses, so they keep their Noble Status. Even then, their soldiers are poorly trained, used to getting their way by throwing the Lewale name around.”

“Thought so. That man was pompus and despite being a High Adept, he seemed quite fragile.”

“How could you tell he was a High Adept?” Alice cocked her head.

“An ability of mine. Its not very specific though.”

“That’s so cool! But the Lewale Family’s strength isn’t physical or magical, but political. Next to dad, they hold the most sway over the city.”

“Are you telling me to be careful around them?”

She shrugged, “I doubt they could actually do anything against you physically, but they do hold power.”

Alaster nodded, taking the advice to heart, “But isn’t the reason you were so wary of him, was it?”

Her smile turned grim, “He the one pushing the hardest to marry my sister.”

“How does that make him creepy exactly?”

“Because when dad turned him down, he then proposed marrying me.”

“Ok, that is creepy.”

“Yeah, but dad is firm. Unless a man gains his approval, he won’t be able to marry either of us!” The girl said with pride.

“That’s good! But you should strive to be the best you can. Make the guys work for it!”

Alice giggled and playfully shoved Alaster.

Iris watched, peeking around one of the many doors leading into the training hall, as two of the people she cared for the most joked and laughed together while two horrifying creatures brawled.

It was a strange position she found herself in after Alaster came back. The years he had been in Onigas, she and him had been rivals. Competing against each other in both studies and physical aspects. He had usually won, being naturally large and intelligent. But once she got her Class, she finally began to win more often than not.

But then he vanished on that bloody night. She had never seen that much blood before. It still haunted her dreams.

She trained until she bled, and then got back up to train some more. No one else in the city could say they trained as hard.

And yet, despite all that struggle, Alaster had defeated her with ease. Almost like he was enjoying it. Playing with a child.

It annoyed her. It angered her. It infuriated her. Yet, it also enticed her. She wanted to see more. Not more of him as a combatant, but more of him as a person.

She had never felt this way. And it scared her.

It excited her.